The Dragon Who Loved Me (Dragon Kin #5)(31)

“Any new scars?” another asked.

“That Lightning you came in with . . . he’s a big buck. You f**k him yet? If you didn’t, are you going to? ’Cause ... you know.” Rhona lifted her ale to her lips and drank it al in one gulp. Then she motioned to the barmaid and demanded another, her cousins cheering when she did.

Vigholf escorted his mother to the front steps outside the Great Hal . They’d had dinner in his room, had gone for a walk around the grounds, and during al that had talked for hours. Tonight she’d stay in the castle so they could enjoy breakfast together in the morning before he left.

With so many sons, Davon always managed to show each of them how much they were loved. Although they’d al known she had a special place in her heart for Ragnar. But Vigholf had understood that. Since Ragnar had hatched, their father had made it his business to crush Ragnar’s soul rather than harness the dragon’s power. Perhaps because Olgeir had known from the beginning that of al his offspring, Ragnar would be the one to bring him down.

“I’m so glad we had this time together,” Davon told him before they went up the stairs.

“Me too. But this should al be over soon enough.” Vigholf glanced down at his feet before asking the question that had been bothering him and his brothers. “And once this is over . . . wil you come home?”

Davon blinked wide blue eyes. “Of course! Why would you think any different?”

He shrugged. “You weren’t with the Horde of your own free wil , Mum. I know that. So I can understand if you’d rather not come back.”

“But I wil . Because my sons are there. My grandsons. And you, your brothers—you’ve made it different now.”

“It’s real y been Ragnar.”

“He wouldn’t have been able to do any of it without you and your brothers and Meinhard. And I’ve never hated the Northlands. I love it there. I merely hated your father—and he’s dead now.” Gods. She sounded so . . . perky.

“If you’re sure.”

“Of course I am. Now”—she took his hands into hers—“stop worrying about me. I’m perfectly safe here. I just want you to go back and help your brother win against those awful Irons.”

“I wil , Mum. Promise.”

“Good. So . . .” His mother looked off and frowned.

“What’s wrong?”

“I think your weak little friend could use some help.”

Vigholf looked across the courtyard, and there was Rhona, leading her female kin toward the side door that would lead them back to the nearby lake. It wasn’t an easy task, though, when She-dragons kept breaking off from the group and trying to make a run for it.

“Give me a moment, Mum.”

“I’m going to bed, so take your time,” she laughed.

Rhona caught hold of another cousin and yanked her back to the group.

Gods, she didn’t have time for this. She should be in bed, getting a few hours’ sleep before the suns rose and she returned to the armies in the val ey. What she shouldn’t be doing was dragging her kin from a brawl—that they started—in the middle of the nearby pub and trying to get them to bed.

When did that become her job?

Once Rhona got one cousin back in line with the others, another cousin made a run for it. Where were they running to? Most likely back to the pub for more drink and more fights. But before her cousin could get far, the Lightning was there, swooping up the She-dragon in one arm.

“Need help, Sergeant?” he teased.

Although Rhona would like to tel him no, she couldn’t afford to at the moment.

“I just need to get them back to the lake. The aunts wil take care of them from there.”

“I can help with that. But what wil I get out of it?”

Annoyed, she snapped, “Not to get my fist shoved up your—”

“Now, now. Let’s not get nasty, Fire Breather.”

“Are you helping or not?”

He picked up another one of her straying cousins in his free arm and motioned to her. “Lead the way, Babysitter.”

“I hate that nickname.”

“I know you do,” Vigholf laughed. “I know you do.”

Rhona may hate the nickname Babysitter, but she had to see how it fit her. At least that’s how Vigholf felt as he watched the She-dragon chase down one of her cousins and tackle her to the ground. Once Rhona had her pinned, she grabbed her by the hair and dragged her back to the lakeside.

“Now stay!” she ordered the female, brown eyes fierce.

Vigholf chuckled until a hand reached up and gripped his crotch and twisted.

“Owwww!”

Rhona ran over and desperately tried to pul another cousin’s hand off him.

“Let it go!”

“It’s huge, Rhona! You should give it a feel.”

Rhona dropped to her knees in front of him, one hand trying to pry the other female’s fingers off him, the other pul ing at her wrist. “I wil . I promise.

But you need to let go!”

The she-viper final y released him and Rhona flung her kin’s arm away. Dropping back on her heels and panting, she looked up at Vigholf.

I am so sorry, she mouthed at him.

Vigholf nodded and forced himself not to rub his poor cock.